Kuznetsov still bitter about NHL's dress code

The NBA is probably America's most progressive major sport, embracing individuality and the rise of celebrity players.

The NHL is on the opposite end of the spectrum, where players are electric on the ice and rather bland off of it.

Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov cannot be counted in that stereotype, and apparently, he's pretty fed up with it.

"Wearing the suit was the biggest problem (in transitioning to the NHL). I still hate that s---," he told SI.com in a long-ranging interview this week. "One day, I wish the NHL can allow you to wear whatever you want. I will have new look for every game."

The worst part is that in arenas around the country, NBA teams and NHL teams play home games in the same center. The same arena tunnels where LeBron James and John Wall are captured strutting the latest fashion, Kuzy is forced to blend in with one of his 10 drab suits.

"In our sport, it’s just different," he continued. "Basketball not like that. People won’t make fun of (NBA players) because they wear pink shoes. They go, ‘O.K., that’s his style.’"

Of the major sports, only the NHL has dress code standards for how a player dress going to and from a game. The NFL and MLB, which both have strict on-the-field dress codes have even relaxed those in recent years, with the NFL embracing cleats with a cause, while MLB lightened up about socks.

Hopefully, Kuzy gets his way in the end and we can finally see what he thinks high fashion looks like.

The in-depth article is well worth a read, as it details Kuzy's hilariously foul mouth, utter lack of nutrition ("I’m totally against that s---."), how he's dealing with stardom, and his love of all things sports.